Prepping Your Teen For A Solo Travel Adventure

It can be tough for parents to imagine letting go
of their children as they get older. That natural feeling can easily turn into
a panic when you are thinking about letting your teen travel on their own without
you. The natural impulse to protect your child is hard to tamp down even when
you want to give your teen some independence.

Preparing your teen for a traveling adventure on
their own is the best way to make sure that they stay safe and some of your
worries can be eased. Travel-smart kids are more likely to have a
smooth trip that they will remember for a lifetime. We are going to take a look
at a few ways that you can help prepare your teen for solo travel.

From getting them packed with an appropriate
wardrobe to calling Allstate car insurance or any insurance
company you prefer about additional coverage for their trip, there is a lot to
do to help get your teen ready to hit the road. Giving your teen a realistic
view of what it will be like to travel without you to depend on will help them
to cope once they are on their own.

Packing

Teens are all about clothes and wearing the
coolest outfits but, this isn’t always a practical way to travel. You can do a
simple internet search of your teen’s destination to check out the seasonal
weather and get clothing recommendations. It’s also a good idea to pack with
your teen instead of letting them do it themselves.

Focus on pieces of clothes that can coordinate well together and
easily create multiple outfits. For example, you might want to consider packing
a convertible pair of pants that can be unzipped into shorts easily. Think
about packing clothes that can be worn in layers and are convenient for many
kinds of weather conditions.

Documentation

Along with an up to date passport, there could be
other documentation that is required for your teen’s trip. Talk to your travel
agent about anything specific that is needed. A separate spot in your teen’s
luggage or in a passport belt should be used to carry any important documents.

Don’t forget to include emergency contact
information, updated immunization records, insurance information, and a travel
itinerary. You never know when these important documents will be needed
during your teen’s trip, so they need to understand the importance of keeping
them safe.

Insurance

Anything can happen, so it’s a good idea to take
a look at additional travel coverage for your teen’s travels. This can help
cover a variety of issues including lost luggage and unexpected medical
expenses.

Safety

It’s important to educate your teen about the
area that they will be traveling to and make certain that they have realistic expectations.
Review the risks and talk to your teen about
how to stay safe while traveling with tips like always staying with a buddy and
how to get help if it is needed.

Responsibility

One of the most important responsibilities of
being a traveler is acting as an ambassador for your family and home country.
Make sure that your kids understand the importance of following local laws and
rules, using their manners, being respectful of local customs and peoples and
using thoughtful decision making.

It can be a scary prospect to send your kids out into
the world where you can’t protect them. It is also an excellent opportunity for
your teen to experience how the rest of the world works. Talk to your kids
about what to expect from their destination, expected levels of
responsibilities and how to get help if it is needed. Your gift of independence
and knowledge is everything that your teen needs to have the adventure of a
lifetime.

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About Go! Girl Guides

Go! Girl Guides publishes the world's first series of travel guidebooks for women. Our guidebooks focus on women's health and safety and it's our mission to empower, inspire and connect women in travel.